Well-drilling apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 5 4 S. N. HALL. WELL DRILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1905.

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no. seaeva Specification of Iietters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906,

Application filed 'S ept-ember 21. 1906. Serial No. 279,615.

To alt whom it may concern: I 7 Be it known that I, SAMUEL N. HALL, a

, citizen of-the United States, residin at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Well- Drilling Apparatus, of which the following is a s ecificat1on.

his invention relates to well-drillin apparatus, and has for its object to provi e an improved connection between the drill-rod and the drill-rope, so as to ermit oi the free rotation of the drill-rod wit out twisting the connection between the latter and the rope. It is furthermore designed to adapt this connection or con ling for use in conjunction with tubular drill-rods through which water is introduced to clear the cuttings from the drill and to provide for connecting the water supply pipe to the stationary element of the coupling, so as to avoid twisting of the watersupply pipe by the drill-rod.

. As heretofore constructed the bearings of drill-rod swivels have been more or less 0 en, whereby sand, &c.,- enter the bearing, which soon becomes worn and useless, thereby reuiring repeated replacing of the antifriction e ernents, which is a serious objection, in that it consumes time and involves considerable expense. Having appreciated this detect, I propose to overcome the same by entirely ousing the bearings, so as to render the same both dust and water proof, whereby rusting of the joint is obviated and the ingress of sand and the like is eiiectuall y prevented, thus maintaining the bearing in an effective work-- ing condition and materially prolonging the vliie thereof.

Aiurther disadvantage existing in ordinary swivels is that as the bearing is open it is im ossible to maintain a material amount of In ricant in the bearing, wherefore it is necessary to frequently lubricate the same, which is of course a serious objection. I propose to obviate this objection and to maintain the bearing submerged in the lubricant, and thereby to obviate the necessity of he quently supplying lubricant to the bearing. in this connection it is also propose to enable the convenient introduction of lubricant to the bearing without taking the latter apart and without disturbing any of the other parts of the swivel.

A further object of the inventioii is to locate the bearing above the inlet of thewater for washing out the cuttings and to prevent as far as possible the leakage of water into in which the bearing is housed the lowered.

the bearing. Should any leakage occur, the lubricant would of course float upon the water, and thereby maintain the bearing in the desired lubricated position. By reason of the fact that the bearing is entirely housed the lubricant cannot become displaced bythe water. Moreover, should there be any material wear of the joint between the tubular stem of the swivel and the compartment ubricant will be prevented from leaking downwardly through the joint by reason of the u ward pressure of the water, and therefore oss of.

the lubricant is efl'ectuall revented.

A. still further object o the invention is to prevent accidental disconnection of the-drillrope from the coupling, particularly when the drill is suddenly arrested in its downward movement and the drill-rope continues to be With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of arts, as will be hereinafter more fully descri ed, shown in the accompanyin drawings, and particularly pointed out in t e a pended claims, it being understood that c a'nges in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the sco e of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

. In the accompan 'ng drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of t e coupling of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures of the drawmgs.

As embodied in the accorn anying drawings, the present coupling inc udes a tubular case 1, which is open at opposite ends and provided with a pair of transverse interme diate partitions 2 and 3, which produce a central compartment 4, from which leads a lateral pipe-coupling element 5, to which a flexible Water-su pl pipe 6 is designed to be connected. 13 g and 7 is fitted in the lower open end of the case 1 and is provided with opposite external perforate ears 8, through which pass adjusting-screws 9, which take into threaded seats or sockets 10 in the lower end of the case 1.

Extending longitudinally through theopening 11 in the lower )artition 3 is il tubular stem member 12, which projects can the gland 7 and connected to the tubular drill- IIO rod 13 by means of a reducer 14, which is externall threaded upon the tube 12 and internally t eaded upon the drill-rod. Suitable packing 1'5 is interposed between the gland 7 and the partition 3, so as to form a watertight joint between the tube 12 and the bottom of the case 1. The upper end of the tube 12 is closed and provided with a cylindrical stem or post 16, extending through an opening 17 in the partition 2. A gland 18 loosely embraces the smooth intermediate portion of the stem 16 and is threadedinto the socket 19 in the upper face of the partition 2 concentric with the stem or post 16, there being packing'20 fitted in the back of this socket, so as to form a water-tight joint between the stem and the upper end 0 the case. A removable closure cap or plug 21 is threaded into the top of the case 1 and is provided in its under side with a centralseat or recess 22 for the reception of the upper end of the stem or 0st 16. Between the partition 2 and the c osure-cap 21 the stem or post 16 is threaded for the reception-of a nut 23, which lies upon the top of a concentric head or collar 24, embracing the stem 16. A hard-metal ring 25 is provided upon the top of the partition 2, there being antifrictionballs 26 interposed between the ring 25 and the head or. collar 24, said elements having annular grooves constituting ball-races. By th s construction a swivel connection is pro- .vided between the tube 12 and the case 1, whereby the tube may be turned upon its axis within the case. The antifrietionbearing is of course provided with a suitable lu-' bricant which is originally introduced prior to the application of the closure-plug 21, the latter being provided with an' opening 27, through which the bearing may be afterward lubricated. Any suitable removable closure 28 may be employed for the opening 27.

As hereinbefore described, the water-pipe 6 is in communication with the central compartment 4 through the pipe-joint 5, and in order that water may be introduced into the tubular drill-rod 13 that portion of the tube 12 which is within the compartment 4 is provided with an annular series of openings or ports 29, through which the water passes into the tube 12 and thence from the tube into the drill-rod. By this construction the tubular drill-rod is always in communication with the chamber 4, to which water is continuously supplied through the pipe 6, wherefore there is no interruption of the supply of water to the drill-rod by reason of rotary movements thereof. When the parts of the coupling are assembled, they are all housed and protected within the case 1 and at the same time are conveniently accessible for re.-

pairs.

Another important feature of the present invention .iOSKlGS in the fact that the waterchamber 41's located below the swivel-bearseaa'za -ingbetween the tubular element 12 and the case 1, whereby the bearing is not liable to become damp and rusted by the water, particular] as there 'is a water-tight joint between t e partition 2 and the stem 12.

Connection between the coupling. and the drill-rope (thelatter notbeing shown) is had in the usual manner by means of a bail-shaped of the case, with its opposite ends pivotally enwardly from the middle of the case, the upper end of the link bein engaged with a hook 32, hung from a swivel 33, which is in turn connected to the drill-rope.

noted that the swivel member 1 is divided into an upper and a lower compartment, the

bular element 12 and the land or-stuflingupper compartment receives and houses the swivel member 1. of the bearing the latter is dust-proof, sandproof, and waterproof, which prevents rapid terially prolongs the life of the bearing. Furthermore, the upper com artment constitutes a chamber in which t e lubricant is contained, with the bearing submerged in the lubricant, whereby the bearing is maintained in a thoroughly-lubricated condition. Again, the bearing chamber or compartment may be conveniently supplied with lubriturbing any of the elements of the swivel; .Wh le the packing 20 of course forms a water-tight joint between the tubular stem and the partition 2 of the swivel 1, its purpose is not somuch to maintain a water-tight joint operation. This will be understood from the fact that when the drill is in operation and water is passing into the swivel the upward pressure of the water will prevent downward eakage of the lubricant through the openin in the partition 2, and as the lubricant wil float upon the surface of the water the bearing will be maintained submerged in the lubricant notwithstanding the presence of wa-' ter within the bottom of the upper compartmerit. As the upper compartment is entirely closed, the ingress of water is limited and the oil cannot become displaced, .wherefore the oil operates to exclude the water to a great extent from the compartment and at least to such an extent as not to impair the running of the bearing.

ll aving thus described the invention, what is claimed is having closed ends and provi ed with a partition dividing the case intoan upper combox 7 to prevent leakage 0 water, while the 1 A well-drill swivel corn rising a case link 30, loosely straddling the upper portion gaging studs or trunnions 31, projecting out- From the foregoing description it will be lower compartment serving to receive the tubear'ng between the tubular stem and the By reason. of the housing wearing of the antifriction elements and ma cant through the opening 27 Without dis= as to preventleakage of the lubricant when first introduced and when the swivel is not in partment and 'a lower compartment, the ower compartment being provided with a water-inlet, a tube rotatab y piercing the bottom of the lower compartment and having that portion of the tube within the lower compartment provided with an opening'for communication between said compartment and the tube, the upper portion of the tube piercing the partition and provided with a swivel-bearing within the upper compartment.

2-. A we'll-drill swivel comprising a case having opposite closed ends and provided with a partition dividing the case into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a tubular member rotatably piercing the bottom of the lower compartment and having that portion which is within the'lower compartment provided with an opening for comwith a partition dividing the case into an upper compartment and a lower compartment,

the lower compartment being provided witha water-inlet, a tubular member piercing the bottom of the lower compartment and provided with an opening communicating between the lower compartment and the tube,

the upper end of the tube being provided with a stem rotatably piercing the partition, a head carried by the stem and located within the upper compartment, and antifriction devices between the head and the partition.

4. A well-drill swivel comprising a case having closed ends and provided with a par.- titiondividing the case into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, the lower compartment being provided with a water-inlet, a tubular element rotatably piercing the bottom of the lower compartment and'provided with an opening communicating between the lower compartment and the tube, the top of the tube having a stem rotatably piercing the partition, the top end of the case being provided in'its inner side with a seat rec iving the top of the stem, a head carried by the stem within the upper compartment, and antifriction devices interposed between the head and the partition.

5. A well-drill swivel comprising a case, a removable closure for the top of the case, a stulling-box for the lower end of the case, a

partition dividing the case into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, the lower compartment being provided with a water-inlet, a rotatable tube extending through the stuffing-box and into the lower compartment, that portion. of the tube within the lower compartment havin an opening for communication therewith, the partition being provided with an opening and a socket concentric therewith, the upper end of the tube having a stem passing through the opening in the partition and into the upper com partment with its u per extremity bearing against the removab e closure, packing within the socket, a land within the socket, a head carried by the stem and located in'the upper compartment, and antifriction devices interposed between the headand the parti- 6: A well-drill swivel comprising a case having opposite closed ends and provided with a partition dividing the case'into an upper compartment and a lowercompartment, the lower compartment having a water-inlet, and a swiveled bearing located within and entirely housed by the upper compartment.

7. A well-drill swivel comprising a case having opposite closed ends and provided with a partition dividing the case into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, the lower compartment having a water-inlet, a rotatable tubular stem piercing the bottom of the lower compartment and the partition and in communication with the lower compartment, and a swiveled bearing for the stem within and completely housed by the upper compartment.

8. A well drill swivel comprising a case having opposite closed ends and provided with a partition dividing the case into an upper compartment and a lower compartment, a water-inlet for the lower compartment, the upper compartment constituting a lubricantreservoir and provided with a filling-opening, a rotatable tubular stem piercing the bottom of the lower compartment and the partition, said tubular stem being in communication with the lower compartment, and a swiveled bearing for the stem within .and entirely housed by the upper compartment.

9. A well drill swivel :comprising a case having a lower closed end, a removable closure for the upper end of the case, a partition dividing thecase into an uppercompartment and a lowercompartment, the lowercompartment having a water-inlet, a-swiveled hearing within and entirely housed by the upper compartment, and a tubular stem piercin the bottom of thelower compartment and thepartition and hung upon the bearing.

' Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of 'two witnesses.

' SAMUEL N, HALL.

Witnesses J. Ross CoLHoUN, C. E. DOYLE. 

